The hardware needed to connect stand-alone computers into a local area network
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Routers store IP addresses in a routing table which they they use to work out the best route in which to send data to it's destination network. Show Routers use IP addresses to work out where to send packets of data. Packets of data sent over the internet can pass through many other network's routers until it reaches it's destination. Routers enable data to be sent (routed) between different types of networks. For example: Routers are most commonly used to connect computers and devices to the internet (WAN). Computers can connect to a router either through cables or wirelessly. What exactly do routers do? At this point, you can see that routers can connect different types of networks together and send data between them. They can do this because they are intelligent devices and can perform the following functions:
This is where the name 'router' comes from. They can direct data between networks using the best/fastest route possible. All computers and devices connected to the internet are assigned a unique number called an Internet Protocol Address (IP address). A computer or device's IP address determines it's exact location. The IP address of the device would depend on where in the world it connected to the internet from. The list below shows some examples of different IP addresses in various countries:
Computers on the same network would share the same first few numbers of the IP address. This is used to locate the network . Different devices on the same network are uniquely identified by the last few numbers of the IP address. On my school's network, IP address for individual devices could be assigned like this:
This is used to locate individual devices on the network. How does a router store IP addresses?Routers store IP addresses in something called a routing table. The routing table lists all of the different routes to other networks. The router will use the routing table to determine the best route to use when sending data to another network. How does a router send data between computers? Routers send 'packets' of data between computers on different networks. Each data packet contains the IP address of the computer/network that the data is being sent to. The router will use the IP address to work out the best route in which to send the data to it's destination. Remember: The data will be received by routers on other networks which will read the IP address and re-route the data until it ends up at the exact device it was intended for. Network Interface Card (NIC) What are network interface cards used for? A wired NIC uses cables to connect computers/devices to a network. (click to zoom) A wireless NIC uses Wi-Fi to connect computers/devices to a network. (click to zoom) Network Interface Cards are used to connect individual computers/devices to a network. Modern computers usually come with network interface cards already built-in. Network interface cards have ports which allow network cables to be plugged in and connect the computer to the network. There are two types of network interface card:
A wired network interface card connects computers to a network using cables. A wireless network interface card connects computers to a network using Wi-Fi signals. What are network cables used for?  Network cables plug into the ports on network interface cards. Network cable is used to connect computers and devices to a network. Network cables are plugged into a computers wired network interface card and connects it to the network. Data is sent around the network via the network cable. Cable holds advantages over wireless connections for two reasons:
Network cables are made up of different wires:
Network cables have connectors on each end that plug into network interface cards. The wires inside a network cable perform different functions. Hubs allow devices to connect to each other by plugging network cables into their ports. Hubs are 'non-intelligent' devices and do not manage data flowing around the network. (click to zoom) Hubs allow computers and devices to plug into their ports in order to connect to each other and share files, data and resources. Hubs are 'non-intelligent' devices and they don't manage any of the data that flows through them. When data gets sent to the hub, there is no attempt to locate the computer/device that the data is meant for. The hub simply sends the data onto every computer/device on the network. This means that every device on the network will receive the same data whether they requested it or not. This lack of data management makes networks that are connected by hubs very slow because there is a lot of unnecessary data flowing around. Hubs are old technology and have been replaced by switches which manage data more effectively and operate much faster (more on switches later). What connects a computer to a local area network?Routers: Network routers allow you to connect to other LANs (if need be), and they assign IP addresses to your devices. A wireless router will allow computers with Wi-Fi NICs to connect with each other and with the internet.
What are the hardware equipments needed to install a local area network?Typical LAN Equipment. Modem: A device that connects to the data connection provided by your Internet service provider (ISP). ... . Router: A router is a device that routes or splits your Internet connection among multiple devices. ... . Switch: A pass-through device that splits your Internet connection among multiple devices.. What type of hardware is usually used in a local networks?LANs generally consist of cables and switches, which can be connected to a router, cable modem, or ADSL modem for Internet access. LANs can also include such network devices as firewalls, load balancers, and network intrusion detection.
What other hardware device is used to connect computers in a network?Hub. A hub is a physical device used to join multiple devices on the same LAN. For example, a laptop, desktop computer and printer can connect into a hub's ports with Ethernet cables and be part of the same local network.
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